EU, Saudi Arabia decry Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes

UNITED NATIONS, United States — Britain and Germany added their voices to growing international condemnation of Israel Tuesday over the demolition of Palestinian homes in southeastern Jerusalem, saying the destruction was "particularly egregious".

The five European Union members of the UN Security Council, which also include France, Belgium and Poland, released a statement following a council meeting on the Middle East.

"We as member states of the European Union strongly condemn the demolition by Israel of Palestinian buildings in the district of Wadi Al Hummus, in the southeast of Jerusalem," they said. 

“In all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolition in occupied territories is contrary to International Humanitarian Law and to UNSC resolutions,” the statement added.

The EU countries said demolitions cause “unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians and is harmful to the peace process”.

Israel said on Tuesday that a total of 12 Palestinian buildings it claimed are illegally constructed were demolished in Monday’s controversial operation.

Israel says the homes were built too close to its separation barrier cutting off the occupied West Bank, posing a “security risk”, and the demolitions were approved by its supreme court following a lengthy process.

But the five EU countries — plus Estonia which is a forthcoming EU member of the Security Council — described the demolitions as “particularly egregious”.

They noted that several of the buildings were located in areas meant to be under Palestinian Authority civilian control under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.

“They set a dangerous precedent that directly jeopardises the two state solution,” the statement read.

A preliminary assessment by the UN found that 24 people were displaced in Monday’s destruction, including 14 children.

Also on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s demolition operation the previous day, urging world powers to “stop this aggression”.

“The Cabinet strongly condemned and denounced authorities of the Israeli occupation for the demolition of dozens of homes in... East Jerusalem,” said a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

“It called on the international community to intervene to stop this aggression and dangerous escalation that targets Palestinians.”

Palestinian leaders expressed outrage at the demolitions in the Sur Baher area, which straddles the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

They note that most of the buildings were located in areas meant to be under Palestinian Authority civilian control under the Oslo Accords of the 1990s.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. It began construction of the separation barrier during the bloody second Palestinian Intifada in the early 2000s and claims it is necessary to protect against attacks.

Palestinians see it as an “apartheid wall” and a potent symbol of the Israeli occupation.